2013-07-21

This picture of Romanward came to me as a gift from Camilla. It makes me think that De Immortalitate began to be posted two years ago (Summer 2011) and was my first multichapter story. I'm currently posting my fifth multichapter story, Snare, and I'm humbled by the terrific support it's getting!

Thank you for everything!

Antonius & Bella

De Immortalitate COMPLETE "The life of the Roman patrician
Antonius is put at stake by his father, Felix. When Felix brings to his
only son a new slave, Bella, more reasons arise for Antonius' concerns.
Felix's secret can change Antonius' and Bella's destiny." ExB
AU/vampires

2013-07-13

Have you read Legacy of a Dreamer? Its sequel, Dreams of the Cursed, will be available on October 3. Today you're getting the opportunity to see the cover and read an exclusive sneak peek!

Allie Jean, Dreams of the Cursed (available on October 3)

Sneak peek!

A violent war has waged in secret underneath the notice of humanity
since the beginning of time. Evil has pledged the destruction of
humanity in spite of a power those that covet it could not possibly
contain. Now the Warriors have inherited this fight and are honor-bound
to rid the world of this ancient malevolence. By guarding the most
precious, piercing light they possess—their female kin known as the
Oracles, or Dreamers—the Warriors have a chance against the darkness.

Chantal
Breelan has suffered from horrific nightmares for most of her life,
believing something is wrong with her to have such visions of
destruction. But when creatures of terror came crawling out of the
shadows to hunt her down shortly after her eighteenth birthday, she
discovered the truth. Her dreams became reality, throwing her headfirst
into a battle wrought by cursed monsters, where death and torture lie at
every turn.

Mathias is a descendant of a Fallen Angel and a
powerful Warrior. He vows his life in service to pay recompense for the
sins of their fathers by guarding Chantal from within the shadows. Long
has he fought, shedding sweat and blood, hoping that his struggles
wouldn’t be in vain. With Chantal’s life in danger, he’s been forced to
reveal himself, yet she has managed to surprise him with her fierce
tenacity and strength. In his sacrifice, he finds redemption and life’s
ultimate reward—a love to surpass all time.

Now Chantal has
picked up the reins of her birthright and stands by her Warrior kin, by
Mathias. She’s on a mission to rescue others like herself. Yet, in this
challenge, a battle of wits is exposed. New players are discovered,
throwing strategies into question. When the truth comes to light, can
Chantal hold her band of brothers together, or will they crumble under
the weight of betrayal?

Chantal Breelan is a ward of the state, living under the care of a woman who is cold and heartless. Her past is a mystery, and her future is even more uncertain. She can’t recall why she had been taken from her parents and so she’s left with nothing but an empty hole where her childhood should have been. When she awakens from her nightmares, she’s left with terrible, violent images, as well as a boy whose face is oddly familiar, yet can’t be placed.

Scared and alone, Chantal begins to confide in an imaginary friend – a shadow in the shape of a man who stands in the corner of her room. She is comforted when she believes he listens to her.

On her eighteenth birthday, Chantal is forced to leave her foster home. She moves to New York City, but the start of her new life doesn’t begin as smoothly as she’d hoped. In this environment, she faces a whole new set of challenges.

One night at a subway station, Chantal meets a young boy who runs away from her, and she’s compelled to follow him down into the tunnels. But this Rabbit Hole reveals a world where reality is a nightmare. Her dreams are clues to her future, and her life becomes twisted and dangerous when she learns that things that go bump in the night are not just in fairy tales and childhood stories.
Interesting information about the book covers:Legacy of a Dreamer has a new book cover to go with book 2, Dreams of the Cursed. Both book covers use photographs by renowned fashion photographer, Francis Bertrand.

Meet the Author:

Allie Jean was born with an overactive imagination. At a very early age, her days were spent inventing stories, directing her sisters in made-up plays or telling elaborate ghost stories. Her mind never took breaks, or shutdown, even when she slept. When her eyes shut at night, she would have vivid dreams complete with extensive, elaborate plot lines, and good overcoming evil villains.

She was encouraged by her parents, even at a young age, to write down her tales, and it has remained a somewhat secret hobby. It became a means to escape from the drama of real life into one of the many worlds she created.

Now, living in California with her husband of ten years, her love of storytelling had taken a back seat with the arrival of their four children. Though, she always found time to write down her thoughts on whatever was handy, including a stray diaper or two while rocking a sleeping child in the middle of the night when her character's begged for attention as well.

As a busy wife, mother and working full-time outside the home, somehow she has been able to write down her relentless character's story. Her once secret hobby and private world, is now released, for others to enjoy. Nothing would make Allie happier that to continue writing and spend more time at home with her family on a more full-time basis.

2013-07-10

What do famous writers think about their characters and the way they create them? Here are some quotes. I hope they'll inspire you!

"First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!"

- Ray Bradbury

"I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters loose."

- Stephen King

"Try to get your characters into interesting trouble. Allow your characters to misbehave. Let them stay out after 11."

- Charles Baxter

"It begins with a character,
usually, and once he stands up on his feet and begins to move, all I can
do is trot along behind him with a paper and pencil trying to keep up
long enough to put down what he says and does.

2013-07-06

Summer is (finally!) here. If you're looking for a book that will give you a very good time during the season, you've found it. Don't miss An Unexpected Woman, by Sandi Layne.

Sandi Layne, An Unexpected Woman

Why? This book caught my attention from the very first sentence: “In life, the ability to laugh is vital.”
Have you ever had a bad day, when you thought that maybe things could have gone better if you'd faced them with a different attitude? I was at the end of one of those days when I opened this novel, and it made me feel that the story would deal with realistic situations, offering characters with whom I would be able to relate. I haven't been disappointed.

Summary: “Put a bow around the woman you want for me, so I’ll know.”A paradise for some, Florida is a lonely place for Associate Pastor Dr. Mark Countryman. Hurt by relationships in the past, Mark wonders if there is someone out there for him. He asks God to make his will clear.When he stumbles over local girl Shelley Roberts while out to lunch one afternoon, he feels both an attraction to her and the need to guard his heart. Her chipper and sunny demeanor add brightness to each day he spends with her, but his track record with relationships keeps him from fully opening his heart. Their burgeoning relationship is put to the test when a brewing storm off the Florida Peninsula threatens their city. Shelley prays for God's help as she prepares for all contingencies, while Mark stands firm in his faith in God's protection.

From the very first chapter, the main character, Mark Countryman, shows that he doesn't beat around the bush:

The phone rang behind the counter and Mark nodded, smiled, and sat in a sturdy metal chair. He didn’t patronize this place because of the decor, he came for the food.

He's an Associate Pastor–a recent transplant to North Fort Myers, Florida–and even when he talks to his Boss, I mean, to the Lord, he goes straight to the point:

Lord, he prayed, as he had many times before, I don’t want anyone unless you want her for me. So, please, put a bow around her, like that song I heard over the holidays said, would you? So I know? I want only what you want for me. I don’t want to blow it again.

So, Mark has a problem: his heart has already been broken, and he doesn't want to risk it another time.

Enter Shelley Roberts. She has experienced sorrow as well, but for Mark she represents a ray of light and becomes a blessing. They get the opportunity to spend more time together, since Shelley does some work at Mark's church, and it will lead them to become more for each other.

But, as it happens in real life, the bond between Mark and Shelley will be tested through thick and thin. When the hurricane season arrives, it will force them to acknowledge what's really fundamental to them.

As you've probably surmised reading the summary, Faith plays an important role in this novel. I'd like to highlight that the author knows this subject very well, since she's studied Theology. But don't think about An Unexpected Woman just as a religious book, because it's much more. It's a book that provides questions more than answers; it will make you think about your own choices and your own life.

Sandi Layne's refreshing and brilliant writing style will fascinate you. She says that the ability to laugh is vital, and she puts it in practice in this novel. This passage, when Mark talks to his mother, is lovely:

“There’s been barely a tropical storm since I got here, Mom. But, if it’ll make you feel any better, I’m bartering.” There was that word again, and Mark blessed Shelley for coming up with it.

“Bartering?”

“With a local, actually. About that kind of thing. She’s already started telling me about hurricane preparation.”

“Ah, a local lady? Well, that’s a relief. A member of your church?”

“No, she’s a girl I just ran into one day.”

His mother, ensconced with a cup of tea in the Big Sur region of California, laughed out loud. “Ran into? You? Was she injured?”

“Not that kind of thing, Mom. Actually, you might appreciate the fact that she kept me from falling into a Gravity Well.”

“Will do. Hey, I’m going to give her a call, so if you’ll excuse me...”

“Of course. And Mark?”

He knew that tone of voice, was a bit wary of it—for he still didn’t feel he had a clear path ahead of him—but he still said, “What, Mom?”

“You know, if she’s willing to take the time with you and all... You might consider more than bartering.”

I'm sure that Mark and Shelley will stay with you well after the last page of this amazing novel. If this book gives you hope, as it's already done for many other readers, why don't you recommend it to a friend?

Having been a voracious reader all her life, Sandi never expected to want to write until the idea was presented in a backhanded manner. Once the notion occurred to her, though, she had to dive in the deep end (as is her wont) and began by writing historical fiction. She has since written more than twenty novels—most of which will never see the light of day.

Sandi has degrees in English and Ministry, has studied theology, spent years as an educator, has worked in escrow and sundry other careers, but research is her passion. She won an award for Celtic Fiction in 2003, but as well as history, she is also fascinated with contemporary research and has self-published several novels in the Inspirational Romance genre.

She has been married for twenty years to a man tolerant enough to let her go giddy when she discovers new words in Old Norse. Her two sons find her amusing and have enjoyed listening to her read aloud—especially when she uses funny voices. A woman of deep faith, she still finds a great deal to laugh at in the small moments of the everyday and hopes that she can help others find these moments, too.

If the link above doesn't work, this is the cached post by rita karnopp (retrieved from Google):

Is your plot Predictable? by rita karnopp

Okay, I admit it. I absolutely love TV shows like Nashville and Red Widow.Why?Because they feed my plotting addiction.I’m always guessing what the next twist will be!When I’m surprised . . . I couldn’t be happier!When the plot is predictable or falls flat – you won’t find a more disappointed viewer/writer than me.L

I hate the predictable plot so much I do whatever I can to avoid them in my own novels.So how do we know if our plot is predictable?

Recognizing predictable plots –Let’s list a few of the most obvious – you know – the plots we all recognize – groan – and say …. “Really – that plot again.”

·Hate at first sight.

·Love at first sight.

·Cinderella scenario

·Wife is dead – and we know the husband or ex-husband killer her

·Scrooge male or female

·Husband is dead – his young trophy wife killed him before he could change the will . . .

·. . . . and the list goes on. . .and on . . . and on.

Setting can fix a predictable plot –But you must be careful here, since your reader most-likely recognizes the scenario and also knows the ending.

·Toss in some unpredictability.

·Make it fun, or tense, or add in believable characters the reader cares about.

·Be extreme and push the limits . . . even go beyond them . . . until the plot takes on a ‘new’ life.

·The bottom line – make your reader care about your characters and what is happening to them.

How Many Plots Can We Think Up? Experts
vary in citing anywhere from one to thirty-six basic plots in
literature. Basic plots are gems for ideas, interweaving and meshing
subplots.Just be sure to
remove clichés. Again – the key is to create something fresh,
interesting, suspenseful, and totally unpredictable.

Unpredictable Plotting –So here we are back to preventing predictable plots.Are we predictable if we write about love?The trick and challenge is to take something old - freshen it up and make it relevant to the present and add your experiences to it.

How do you do that?Let’s consider several options.

1. I would first suggest reading Polti for different perspectives. Or other books: Christopher Booker, The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories; James Scott Bell (nine), Plot and Structure; Ronald Tobias, 20 Master Plots and How to Build Them.

2. Study successful movies and books.We can learn from watching television – even if we pretend we don’t care about a lame or fabulous plot.Face it – if you’re a writer – you do care! Study the story arcs of your favorite shows and movies.We sharpen our ‘what to do or what not to do’ when we guess the turns and twists of a TV show or movie.We sharpen our sensitivity and editorial savvy.Challenge your inventiveness or cleverness to make your story or novel stand out above the rest.

4.
Ask yourself challenging questions that can shape your theme: How to
balance the many facets of your plot and the responsibilities it
involves to reach your dream? How
do you overcome lifelong insecurities and let love in? How do you allow
your character to triumph over past failure relationships and allow
someone new into their heart? What hard choices do your characters face?
How will they resolved them . . . or not?

5. Listen to family members and friends.That may sound surprising, but you may be surprised.I actually wrote a whole book, Revenge, because a friend’s husband put her (eight months pregnant) in a hotel near the hospital . . . because he needed space.He promised to take them both home after the birth – but never did.He was a rancher and he wanted a son – he already had a daughter and had no use for another.Does this plot sound unbelievable?Maybe,
but when I tell people it truly happened – although how revenge played
out was purely from my imagination – my readers loved it was based on
fact to begin with.Often
times grandparents, great aunts, and other relatives have had
remarkable experiences of love or tragedy; for instance experiencing war
or a prison camp, poverty, or other dire circumstances. They would most
likely love to share these experiences with you - if you’re willing to
listen.

Don’t allow your story to be predictable . . . even when you’re writing – ask yourself – “Is this the unpredictable way to handle this?Is this the easy plot or could I truly develop something no one could have imagined at this particular spot in the book?What should/could happen and surprise the reader? What would surprise me at this precise moment?

The talented profiler
is an excellent speaker.
Listening, among the public,
is Alice, the psychic.

The new chapter is due to be posted in two weeks.

Reviewers get a little gift.

"One of the many things Sicily was known for was the tradition of the marionette theater. Those Italian marionettes were works of art, crafted with painted wood and dressed as medieval characters, with shining armor and swords; their shows weren't meant only for children, but depicted legendary events based on history."(Snare, chapter 13)